Finding it tough.

Worried_Mrs · Post by **Worried_Mrs** » 20 Jan 2017, 17:47

I have been reading through the forum and found loads of excellent help but i am hoping someone can help us

my partner started as a postie 3 months ago and loves it! he is in his late thirties and what i would consider a fit man! but for the past 2 months now he has been getting bother off his delivery manager as he is not able to finish a walk within his allocated time.

The manager has been giving him stick and speaking to him like a child because he brings a couple of bundles back each day, They keep saying to him why can everyone else in the office finish the walks but you cant??? is this sort of thing common inside royal mail??? He feels like he is being mentally bullied by his manager, and no matter how fast he try's to do his walk he just cannot finish it within the time following all the correct procedures.

The other reserves he is being compared to are coming in early and working late (Unpaid!), not taking breaks, using their own cars to deliver the mail instead of the trolleys and don't even bother to knock on peoples doors just putting a red card through or leaving parcels outside peoples houses. It really doesn't make sense working for free and still rushing around like mad men.

We are really worried he may not pass his probation due to this?, and he is feeling really down and does not know what to do He has even offered and done overtime recently to make sure no bundles was brought back but never got paid for it until kicking up a big fuss, so will now only work his hours and rightly so!.

If anyone has any advice we would be really grateful as he really wants to keep the job.

Post by **holly123** » 20 Jan 2017, 18:04

Stick in a grievance, complaint to HR over bullying, get walk tested , B&H is rife In royal mail , they know walks are unachievable but we see it everyday and pee on one another starting early and working through break , lads blame the union but were all the union and need to work together

Nigel1505 · Post by **Nigel1505** » 20 Jan 2017, 18:34

"If anyone has any advice we would be really grateful as he really wants to keep the job".

First step, join the union. Second step is as per previous post. Even RM have to adhere to the UK employment law. Don't be bullied, work your hours, do your best then they can't touch you.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 20 Jan 2017, 18:42

Working at Royal Mail is more of a "Mental" Challenge than it is "Physical". Your partner seems to be aware of why other Posties are finishing the job and he isn't, so he's halfway there.

Hollies advice is valid but may be a bit Full On for a New Posty on Probation. Although he has to be careful he would probably have to blow up the Delivery Office to get sacked. I have NEVER known any Postie to get the sack after their Probation ...Regardless. AND we have some total Dickheads still working in this business. Never matter what the DOM says, they haven't got thousands of immigrants lining up for this job. It's easier to make excuses, stay on benefits and sit on your backside at home!

What he does have to do is find his Unit Union Rep and join the Union, you'll hear people on here moaning about the Union but they're the only people that are going to stick up for you against the Management. Talk to the Rep and explain the situation, he may need to talk to the Manager about the problem.

He also needs to get a Diary (pocket sized) and start to keep a record of EVERYTHING. Best case scenario: It simply records how much overtime you've done each day, and on which duty (I presume they've got him on a Reserve Duty and he's swapping around) and which day is his day off.

Worst case scenario: He may need to record any incidents where he considers he's been bullied by Management, or indeed other Posties. This can be used if he needs to talk it further.

Worried_Mrs · Post by **Worried_Mrs** » 20 Jan 2017, 18:57

Dorset Plodder wrote:Working at Royal Mail is more of a "Mental" Challenge than it is "Physical". Your partner seems to be aware of why other Posties are finishing the job and he isn't, so he's halfway there.

Hollies advice is valid but may be a bit Full On for a New Posty on Probation. Although he has to be careful he would probably have to blow up the Delivery Office to get sacked. I have NEVER known any Postie to get the sack after their Probation ...Regardless. AND we have some total Dickheads still working in this business. Never matter what the DOM says, they haven't got thousands of immigrants lining up for this job. It's easier to make excuses, stay on benefits and sit on your backside at home!

What he does have to do is find his Unit Union Rep and join the Union, you'll hear people on here moaning about the Union but they're the only people that are going to stick up for you against the Management. Talk to the Rep and explain the situation, he may need to talk to the Manager about the problem.

He also needs to get a Diary (pocket sized) and start to keep a record of EVERYTHING. Best case scenario: It simply records how much overtime you've done each day, and on which duty (I presume they've got him on a Reserve Duty and he's swapping around) and which day is his day off. Worst case scenario: He may need to record any incidents where he considers he's been bullied by Management, or indeed other Posties. This can be used if he needs to talk it further.

Thankyou all for your replies.

My partner joined the union on his first day, but the office does not have a rep ?

Dorset - thank you for the advice i will advise him to keep records, as for overtime he wont do any more as the manager is notorious for not paying the overtime? some staff are still fighting for overtime from before xmas, he says he done it come payday nothing is there. then He then wonders why mail is brought back

How does getting a walk tested work? because my partner is convinced it cannot be done in a part-timers hours following the correct procedures and he is by no means unfit! very much the opposite in fact.

Once again thank you to everyone who offered advice :)

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 20 Jan 2017, 19:24

Worried_Mrs wrote:
Thankyou all for your replies.

My partner joined the union on his first day, but the office does not have a rep ?
Phone the Local Union Office (the Tel No should be on a Union Noticeboard somewhere in the DO)

Dorset - thank you for the advice i will advise him to keep records, as for overtime he wont do any more as the manager is notorious for not paying the overtime?
All Royal Mail Managers have a problem with paying Overtime. Some are worse than others. Get familiar with the the "Over Running Procedure". Basically if he thinks he's not going to finish within his hours he should let the Manager know. This should be done once he's ready to start bundling up his mail (so it's still in the frame). It's the DOMs problem not his, the idea is the DOM checks how much mail there is and for example says, "Leave the last 3 streets in the frame and I'll get someone else to deliver them"! Doesn't normally work that way as this is the point where the DOM starts moaning & making threats.... However the one thing RM cannot make him do is work unpaid overtime
. He could at this stage offer to pay overtime....Don't forget to make a note of that.

How does getting a walk tested work?
I wouldn't worry about walk testing at this stage.... It's bit like the "Holy Grail" in RM...... often talked about but never happens in reality. Concentrate on Not Working for Free & Not getting Bullied by the DOM. Most DOMs try it on with New Posties, they're trying to see what they can get away with. I know it's difficult because he's trying to make a good impression & he's worried about probation but your partner really needs to make a stand early on or he'll get taken advantage of for years, literally. Just like the school playground you've to stand up to the bullies!

Once again thank you to everyone who offered advice :)

Post by **trythat** » 20 Jan 2017, 19:28

As the office does not have a rep, then he should contact his Area Rep. Keeping a diary of events is an ecellant suggestion, we've done that several times in my office and when combined with a rep, it usually brings a DOM to heel. Also when is DOM is speaking to him try and have someone else there as well, to act as a witness. This bullying must be stopped, it's hard but reps can do it with perseverance.

Kirsty952002 · Post by **Kirsty952002** » 20 Jan 2017, 22:07

This sounds all to familiar. I was in the same boat and things have just started to 'click' into place - I have been in the job 4 months! Tell him to only take his walk, lapsing puts extra stress on you, is he on the same walk? I found having concistancy helped me? I am a reserve, but I was placed in the same round for a week and I got faster.

Ignore the other posties, I have tried to keep up with them with speed and I have ended up hurting myself! You develop a technique, how you bundle up, how you organise things it takes time. Many of times I thought sod this I will go back to what I know - bus driving! But I have preserved and got through Christmas, I still have a lot to learn but keep plodding one day it will click

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 21 Jan 2017, 14:11

Threaten to,take the bastards to the small claims court for unpaid hours,that should sharpen the mind. I never understood this DOM's not paying what's owed in overtime,sure they have a budget,but it's not their own personal money,if you have worked it ,they should pay it,without all this prevarication,its unnecessary and just creates bad feeling.
I doubt the very top of this organisation realise what's going on out there at the coal face.

DICK43 · Post by **DICK43** » 21 Jan 2017, 18:02

Overtime!, what`s that?, if you want to stare at your payslip looking for your docket don`t bother!, seriously, I was told this by the area manager the other week, but, in not so many words!..

walkthewalk · Post by **walkthewalk** » 21 Jan 2017, 21:08

You really need to speak to the area rep who will act on your partners behalf as soon as that happens stress levels will lessen, at the end of the day no need to get stressed because all we are doing is pushing paper through letter boxes.

P739 · Post by **P739** » 22 Jan 2017, 07:14

We all have been there at some point the only answer is do the job right and stand your ground Not always easy BUT YOU HAVE TO or you will go under. Don't take s**t from anyone stand up to them get your rep on the case and lets hope he is good one

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 22 Jan 2017, 18:45

DICK43 wrote:Overtime!, what`s that?, if you want to stare at your payslip looking for your docket don`t bother!, seriously, I was told this by the area manager the other week, but, in not so many words!..

Take you've told them you'll be finishing on time (including taking your Meal breaks) then Dick? We had a stand in Manger who tried that trick. I said," That's great because I don't want to do any overtime, so if I don't think I'll be able to finish within my hours I'll let you know and you'll have sort it out". Only did it for one day and then he said, "OK if you're going to go over let me know and I'll pay you overtime to complete".

Why Oh Why do these Bloody Idiots think they can get away with it? It's the same everytime we get a Stand In Manager, they try the same BS that they must have got away with at their own DO. Dickheads the lot of them.

wheresourmoney · Post by **wheresourmoney** » 23 Jan 2017, 16:03

When i first started i found it easy just to smile sweetly, explain to the dom that there may be room for improvement and i would be more than happy for him to come out on delivery with me and show me were i could make time, two things would happen, they would run a mile, or they would come out with you and realise you cant save any time and would leave you alone,remember to bring the rep with you.